Hand planes for beginners
I recommend just three relatively low-cost hand planes for new woodworkers.
The recommendations below are based on my experience with these tools. Good usable tools do not need to be expensive. Read on for a good selection.
Smoothing Plane
The NO4 smoothing plane is the most common first plane to own.
This Stanley is a nice example of a quality tool at a price that reflects its quality and usability. I have this plane along with my vintage Stanleys and it performs nicely.Stanley 12-136 No. 4 Smoothing Bench Plane HERE
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Stanley N0 7
Anyone who reads my blogs will know how fond I am of my Pimped Stanley Bailey N07. The Stanley Sweetheart range is easy to recommend but sadly I am not happy to recommend the Stanley No7 but the Benchdog by Rockler is a great tool. You can buy a Benchdog No7 for a low price on Amazon HERE
Stanley Low Angle Block Plane
If you are considering a block plane then the low angle block plane should be your only consideration. This Stanley has been around for decades and still performs as expected. The low angle is ideal for shooting across end-grain but also a good choice for planing small projects. The Stanley sweetheart range of hand planes is a great value/quality tool, this block plane is no exception. You can buy the Stanley 12-139 Bailey No.60 HERE
